The audience joined forces, according to their applause, with many panelists in support of an assault weapon bans, for limiting the size of magazines, for expanding background checks before gun purchases and more funding for mental health.

The event's focus was sharpened by the participation of Chris and Lynn McDonnell, whose daughter Grace died at Sandy Hook school, as panelists on gun violence.

Bennett said that before 1968, the only federal gun law was to ban fully automatic machine guns, then the law restricting ownership operated on the honor system. In 1993, the James Brady gun act was passed and the background check law has kept 2.1 million from buying guns.

But loopholes must be eliminated, he said.

Also, Bennett said, in many cases guns used in crimes were not with the original purchaser.

That was the heart of Basile's argument. "The crux is access to guns by those with ill intent" and those who weren't supposed to have the guns.

"Nancy Lanza did not have firearms properly secured and if Adam Lanza had not had access it (the shootings) would not have happened," he said.

"Every single facet of Adam Lanza's actions were covered by federal laws, but we need to enforce those laws," he said.

But, Chris McDonnell noted, if there had been an assault weapons ban and high-capacity magazines ban, the statistics of Dec. 14 would have been different.

Members of the mental health and school security panel said there was no inherent connection between mental illness and violence.

Mental illness affects 25 percent of the U.S. population and three of every five people in the country is a perpetrator of gun violence, said panelist Kathryn Seifert, who is an author and psychologist.

She's found often there are two types of people who commit gun violence.

One is a chronic violent offender who may have a history of childhood abuse, substance abuse, poverty and grew up in a high crime neighborhood.

The other is one who commits one heinous act, Seifert said, and might have problems with a lack of social skills, serious issues in school and home, and no treatment.

University of Connecticut professor George Sugai said that a federal study showed that at least one person knew about most of the violent attacks and in 60 percent of the cases more than one person knew.

He said that's why relationships between adults and children are crucial so kids feel they can share information.